Computerized extension of credit to existing demand deposit accounts, prepaid cards and lines of credit based on expected tax refund proceeds, associated systems and computer program products

ABSTRACT

Systems, computer program products, and computer-implemented methods apply or otherwise make available new credit or additional credit to demand deposit accounts, prepaid cards, and existing lines of credit of a customer based on expected tax refund amounts. A computerized estimate of the tax refund available from a tax return of the customer is formed. A portion of the computerized estimate of the tax refund which can be made available as the line of credit is then determined. The existing line of credit is then adjusted based on the expected refund determined to be available, which will serve as an additional source of repayment for the line of credit. One or more of several adjustments may then be made to an existing line of credit: the line of credit may be increased; fees reduced; or the terms of payment adjusted. The invention may be implemented as a computerized process, a computer system or a computer program product.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/407,320, titled “Computerized Extension of Credit To Existing DemandDeposit Accounts, Prepaid Cards And Lines of Credit Based on ExpectedTax Refund Proceeds, Associated Systems And Computer Program Products,”filed on Mar. 19, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to the financial service andbanking industries, and, more particularly, to systems, computer programproducts, and associated methods to utilize the expectation of taxrefunds to extend credit to existing demand deposit accounts, prepaidcards and lines of credit associated therewith.

2. Background

Millions of prepaid cards are issued each year in the United States.Many of the customers of prepaid cards rely primarily on cash and aprepaid card account for their personal finances; these customers oftendo not have a traditional checking, savings, or other bank depositaccount, and they consequently do not write or otherwise use bankchecks.

Short-term financing is at present a $20 billion plus per year industry.Considerable portions of this lending take the form of lines of credit,the proceeds of which are made available to the customers through demanddeposit accounts and prepaid cards. It is believed by industry expertsthat an appropriate manner of offering micro-lending is through afederal bank.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Applicants have recognized a need for enhanced lending options, bankproducts, demand deposit accounts, and prepaid card accounts. Thepresent invention provides computer systems, computer program productsand computer-implemented methods for underwriting and extending creditbased on expected tax refund proceeds to demand deposit accounts,prepaid cards and lines of credit associated therewith of customers andproviding enhanced lending options for both banks and their customers.In view of the foregoing, Applicants have recognized a need for enhancedlending options, bank products, demand deposit accounts and prepaid cardproducts associated therewith.

For example, Applicants have recognized a growing demand and need withinthe banking industry to provide lines of credit to customers orconsumers who generally have had limited financial resource alternativesin their times of greatest need. According to the present invention,computer systems, computer program products, and computer-implementedmethods are provided for providing a line of credit or enhancing anexisting line of credit. The line of credit might operate as amicro-lending open line of credit product provided by a bank. The lineof credit adjustment features of the present invention are madeavailable through communications media, such as through a computernetwork, a global communication network such as the Internet, or througha stand alone computer system available through a lending source. Thepresent invention is also provided as a computer program product storedon a tangible computer readable memory or storage device.

The adjustment of an existing line of credit according to the presentinvention provides a meaningful enhancement to consumers by offering aservice that is commonly used and important to consumers today, e.g.,advance access to a future electronic deposit based on an authorizedportion or percentage of an amount of funds owed to the customer as atax refund, typically that from an income tax return filed on behalf ofthe customer through by an income tax return preparation service.Qualified borrowers with existing lines of credit available may havetheir line of credit enhanced or adjusted. The adjustment may be thecustomer having the line of credit increased, repayment terms extendedor borrowing costs improved. In some cases, the borrower will make drawsin approved increments, allowing the borrower to only utilize the amountof credit needed, rather than a loan where the full amount is borrowedin one transaction. Authorized funds can be made available immediatelyfor use by the borrower.

Some of the beneficial features of this line of credit product and lineof credit enhancement are providing various types of assistance toconsumers with the management of their finances by providing ashort-term borrowing alternative that is more cost effective than otherexpensive financial service products such as payday loans. The line ofcredit product, however, can still be controlled, monitored, and managedby the bank or financing institution. This embodiment of a line ofcredit product can be less costly than other alternatives. This is asignificant benefit from the perspective of the consumer, regulators,and lending institutions.

The present invention thus provides fund distribution opportunities tobanks and to bank customers. For example, underwriting criteria can bebased upon the prepaid card (or other types of banking cards)transaction history and direct deposit history and is often arequirement for consumer qualification for a line of credit.

The present invention may take several forms, including a computerprogram product stored on a tangible computer memory media that isreadable by a computer, for advancing credit proceeds to a prepaid cardaccount, the computer program product comprising a set of instructionsthat, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to performvarious operations. The operations include forming a computerizedestimate of a tax refund available from a tax return of the customer,information that would eventually be used on a future tax return orbased on data from other sources (for example a credit bureau);determining in the computer a portion of the computerized estimate ofthe tax refund available as the line of credit; and adjusting in thecomputer the line of credit based on the determined funding proceedsexpected to be available as a refund to ultimately repay the line ofcredit.

The present invention may also take the form of, a computer implementedmethod of adjusting a line of credit available to customer having ademand deposit account or prepaid card. According to thecomputer-implemented method, a computerized estimate of a tax refund isformed based upon information from a tax return, information that wouldeventually be used on a future tax return or from other sources (forexample a credit bureau); a portion of the computerized estimate of thetax refund available as proceeds for funding the line of credit isdetermined in the computer; and the line of credit based on thedetermined funding proceeds available for the line of credit isadjusted.

The present invention may also take the form of issuing the consumer anew prepaid card, demand deposit account or credit card with a line ofcredit attached. The size of the line of credit is set based onunderwriting criteria, which include the expected tax refund of theconsumer. Such credit can then be accessed by the customer in increments(e.g., $20 draws) so only amounts that the customer needs to use areaccessed, contrasted with a loan where all proceeds are loanedimmediately to the borrower. By the system assessing a fee based on theamount drawn, the borrower only pays for what is used rather than theentire amount of credit offered or made available by the lender. In suchfashion, the consumer is able to save money by not being forced to payunnecessary fees by borrowing more than is needed.

The present invention may also take the form of a computer system foradjusting a line of credit available to customer having a demand depositaccount. According to the computer-implemented method, a computerizedestimate of a tax refund available from a tax return of the customer isformed in the computer system; a portion of the computerized estimate ofthe tax refund available as proceeds for funding the line of credit isdetermined in the computer system and the line of credit based on thedetermined funding proceeds available for the line of credit is adjustedin the computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the features and benefits of the invention,as well as others which will become apparent, may be understood in moredetail, a more particular description of the invention brieflysummarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereofwhich are illustrated in the appended drawings, which form a part ofthis specification. It is also to be noted, however, that the drawingsillustrate only various embodiments of the invention and are thereforenot to be considered limiting of the invention's scope as it may includeother effective embodiments as well.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of computers interconnected through anelectronics communication network and involved in preparation andsubmission of tax refunds.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a computer system according to thepresent invention for adjusting a line of credit of a customer having ademand deposit account.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a computer-implemented sequence ofsteps performed in a computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a computer program product stored in acomputer readable medium according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments ofthe invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theillustrated embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

According to the present invention, tax refund proceeds are applied orotherwise made available to demand deposit accounts, prepaid cards andassociated lines of credit of a customer based on tax refund amountsexpected to be available. A computerized estimate of the tax refundavailable from a tax return of the customer is formed. A portion of thecomputerized estimate of the tax refund which can be available asunderwriting criteria for the line of credit is then determined. Theline of credit is then adjusted, based on the refund expected to beavailable, in the stored data reflecting the line of credit. One or moreof several adjustments may then be made: the line of credit may beincreased; the borrowing costs modified; or the terms of paymentadjusted. The invention may be implemented as a computerized process, acomputer system or a computer program product.

More specifically, tax refund proceeds for a customer or consumer areentered and stored in machine-readable media on a card or other datastorage mechanism. The proceeds are thus made available in the form ofdemand deposit accounts, prepaid cards and associated lines of credit toa customer based on tax refund amounts expected to be available. Acomputerized estimate of the tax refund available from a tax return ofthe customer is formed and appropriate records made by a tax returnpreparer or service provider. A portion of the computerized estimate ofthe tax refund which can be available as underwriting criteria for theline of credit is then determined in a computer of a credit facilityprovider, such as a bank, savings institution or the like. The line ofcredit data stored in a card or other storage medium is then adjustedbased on the refund expected to be available, or some other foil,” ofadjustment made in the customer's records.

Referring to FIG. 1, a tax return preparer or service provider is shownschematically at 20 having a computer with data processing capabilityand appropriate links and interfaces for data communication and accessthrough an electronic communications network 22, such as the Internet,to a computer system or data processor at a tax authority 24. The taxauthority 24 typically is the United States Internal Revenue Service,although it should be understood that it may according to the presentinvention be some other tax authority or governmental entity. The taxreturn provider 20 may be, for example, one of the large entities suchas Jackson Hewitt or H & R Block, or the like. The tax returnpreparation authority may also be some other entity such as anaccounting firm, tax return preparer, accountant, individual or otherauthorized tax preparation service or group, as well.

According to the present invention, a credit provider 26 such as a bankor other institution having a computer or data processor with thecapability of advancing credit by adjusting the data contents of thecomputer reflecting available funding to a customer, whether anindividual or other entity. The credit advanced is in the form of acredit facility, such as a line of credit, loan, credit card oroverdraft protection. The computer at the credit provider 26 interactswith the computers at the tax authority 24 and/or at the tax returnpreparation service 20 via suitable links and interfaces through theelectronic communications network 24, as will be set forth. The creditprovider 26 may be a bank or other lending institution, or it may be anunderwriter operating in conjunction with a lending institution. Thecomputer of credit provider 26 operates in a processing sequence whichpermits a customer or consumer to have access to funds or proceedsavailable through a demand deposit account or prepaid card processor orauthority 28. The card processor 28 may take the form of an automatedteller machine (ATM) or other telecommunications device or mechanism inelectronic communication over the electronic communications network 22with the computer of the credit system provider 26. The card processor28 allows the consumer or customer to adjust the data contents of acredit card account 30. The credit card account 30 may take the form ofa debit card, check card, bank card or other machine-readable medium orstorage device which has appropriate data storage and memoryfunctionality and capability reflecting the status of funds or proceedsto the customer, or consumer have authorized to use and access thatparticular card account 30 and make purchases or paymentselectronically.

The credit provider 26 provides access to the electronic recordsreflecting a credit facility which is formed according to the presentinvention based on a determination of expected tax refund proceeds to beeventually available to the consumer or customer based on appropriateadjustments made in the status of the customer card account after taxreturn processing by the tax authority 24. All, some or individualincrements of such determined portions of expected tax return proceedsare applied or otherwise made available to demand deposit accounts,prepaid cards and associated lines of credit of the customer, as will beset forth.

The tax refund amounts expected may be calculated or determined inseveral ways according to the present invention. For example, theexpected proceeds may be based on amounts indicated as a result of taxreturns, typically income tax returns, prepared for the customer by thetax return preparer 20. The amounts may be those indicated availablefrom tax-related information other than an actual tax return. Forexample, the tax-related information may be available as a result ofcalculations based on a tax payer's actual income or wage records, paystubs or the like. Alternatively, as will be set forth, the amounts maybe based on tax-related information may be available from a previousyear's tax return, which might also be adjusted for verifiable changesin income or deductions status.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a schematic diagram P of a computer-implementedprocess according to the present invention is set forth. As will be setforth, in the process P, a computer implemented method or process isperformed in the computer of the credit system provider 26 to adjust acredit facility available to a customer having a demand deposit accountor prepaid card. As indicated at step 50, an initial step is to verifyin the electronic computer records of the credit provider 26 that theconsumer has an existing loan, line of credit, overdraft line, creditcard or other credit facility. Next, as an indicated at step 52, it isdetermined from the contents of the records of computations in thecomputer at the tax preparer 20 and the computer records of the taxauthority 24 whether the consumer is indicated to either qualify or notqualify for a tax refund.

If it is indicated by the tax preparer 20 and tax authority 24 that atax refund is in fact due to the customer as a result of step 52, andthat the consumer is one who also has an existing credit facility asindicated during step 50, a determination is then made as indicated atstep 54. During step 54, a determination is made of the amount of taxrefund calculated to be owed the taxpayer consumer. The refund amountcalculation may be performed using conventional computerized taxcalculation methods, either by working with a tax preparation service,tax software provider, or comparable service as indicated at 24, or bydirect filing by a consumer who otherwise demonstrates qualification fortax refund.

Thereafter, a portion of the computerized estimate of the expected taxrefund is made available to the consumer as additional and/or modifiedterms on the line of credit is determined during step 56. The decisionand amount are based on a set of underwriting criteria selected by thecredit provider 26, typically also including a confirmation or otherindication or verifiable expectation that the consumer is in fact toreceive a tax refund. The expected tax refund information can besupplemented by other information, such as more traditional underwritinginformation available from a credit bureau or the like. Supplementalinformation of this or other types enables a lender to make a morecomprehensive underwriting assessment. From the amount determinedavailable during step 54, an amount of borrowing capacity is allocatedin the computer during step 56 to be made available to the consumer'scredit facility and the data contents stored and accessible in storagemedia of customer card account 30. Next, during step 58 the consumer'scredit facility and the data contents stored and accessible in storagemedia of the customer card account are adjusted based on the expectedrefund proceeds that will be available to repay the line of credit asdetermined during step 56.

According to the present invention, the verifiable indication orexpectation of tax refund is applied during step 58 as underwritingcriteria to adjust a credit facility of the consumer, whether anexisting loan, line of credit, overdraft line, credit card or the likestored and accessible in storage media of a customer card account.Supplemental information of the type described above may be used at thistime. Adjustment of the credit facility may take several forms accordingto the present invention. The credit adjustment may be as creditattached to one or more of several consumer accounts, much as a demanddeposit, prepaid card, direct deposition account, credit card, or thelike. Other examples of adjustments include improving the terms of thecredit, increasing the amount of credit available, reducing the feesassociated with the credit, extending repayment terms to make repaymentupon receipt of the tax refund rather than wages, or other known,conventional forms of credit adjustment.

The present invention also includes extending credit to a consumer on anongoing basis based on the expectation of tax refunds. The existence ofan expected refund in the spring (January through April) can allow anunderwriter to extend credit to such consumer any time throughout theyear, providing for repayment when a tax refund is received, possiblyalso including other repayment options. Such repayment can free upadditional credit again, allowing the lender to provide year roundaccess to such credit.

The present invention also includes computerized extension of credit inappropriate situations when a consumer has yet to timely file a taxreturn, but is able to provide satisfactory records to indicate a refundis likely. Such evidence could include, for example, records of pastrefunds, pay stub information, pay records withholding tax records andthe like.

The present invention may also be made available in situations wherethere are multiple adjustments to the same existing account or line ofcredit at different points in time. For example, there may be initialadjustments made to the existing line of credit based on expected taxrefund as determined by tax-related information that has yet to befiled. Subsequently, there may be further adjusting of the existing lineof credit based on an expected tax refund once the actual tax return isprepared, the tax refund calculated and the tax return filed with thetax authority.

As an illustrative example of the present invention, consider a consumerwho has an existing line of credit that allows the borrowing of up to$500 in increments of $20, (with an authorized fee of $2.50 for eachincrement borrowed) that is to be repaid on the next demand deposit. Inthis example of the present invention, the consumer visits (or contactsvia phone or web) an authorized tax preparation service, such asindicated at 20 (FIG. 1). Upon review of records of thecustomer/consumer it is determined that the customer is likely toqualify for a tax refund of $3,000 even though a tax return has not yetbeen prepared.

As a result, the existing line of credit is extended to allow thecustomer to borrow up to an additional $1,000, and pay an appropriatefee (for example $1.50 for each $20 borrowed). The consumer can thenhave the additional borrowed amount repaid only once a tax refund isreceived. The consumer is provided additional credit on an existingcredit product, while providing modified terms. Such additional creditcan be accessible via the same methods as the existing credit, so if thecustomer was accessing credit via an overdraft line on a checkingaccount, the additional credit is made available to be accessed throughthe same checking account.

As another example, consider a consumer who has an existing line ofcredit that allows the borrowing of up to $500 in increments of $20,again for an example authorized fee of $2.50 per $20 borrowed, that isto be repaid on the next demand deposit. After the consumer has a taxreturn prepared and filed, it can be determined that a calculated taxrefund on the return sent to the Internal Revenue Service or IRS is$3,000. There are conventional financial methods, known as RefundAnticipation Loans, which may be available to some consumers. Howeverthese involve taking out a new loan on new terms, which are typicallyexpensive. As an alternative, the present invention enables the consumerto have access to an additional $3,000 of credit available through thatconsumer's existing credit facility. That amount may be borrowed insmall, say $20 increments at an appropriate fee, for example of $1 foreach $20 borrowed. Further, any borrowed amount is to be repaid uponreceipt of tax refund from the IRS. In this way, the consumer enjoys anexpansion of an existing credit facility, while only borrowing what isneeded from the credit line and only paying for the amount actuallyborrowed.

As another alternative, a consumer who is not yet a customer, butdemonstrates that a tax refund is likely, may be provided with a line ofcredit that is accessible through a demand deposit account, prepaid cardor credit card. The line of credit can include terms that allow thecustomer to access credit and not repay such credit until a tax refundis received. The present invention makes the credit available inincrements the consumer can choose, rather than as a loan. In suchfashion, the consumer borrows only as much as is required and only paysfees on the amounts borrowed.

As has been discussed, the present invention also provides foradditional credit which can be granted as either a modification to anexisting credit line (such as having fees reduced, having line amounttemporarily increased, or both); or as a supplement to an existingcredit line; or as adjustment of fees due or repayment terms.

Referring to FIG. 2, a computer system or data processing machine 60according to the present invention is illustrated schematically. Thecomputer or computer system 60 adjusts the credit facility, whether lineof credit, loan, overdraft line or the like, available to a customerhaving a demand deposit account or prepaid card 28, through customercard account 30 or otherwise accessible to the customer. The computersystem 60 includes an input/output unit 62 for transferring informationor data, as well as commands to the computer 60 from an operator. Theinput/output unit also receives data and information furnished thecomputer 60 from other authorized sources over the electroniccommunications network 22.

The computer system 60 also includes a processor 64 for responding tocommands from an operator or generated internally within the processorand otherwise operating and controlling operation of the computer. Thecomputer system 60 additionally includes a memory 66 conventionaloperating software and instructions for general purpose operation of thecomputer system 60 by the processor 64. According to the presentinvention, the memory 66 has stored therein a computer program product,stored on a tangible computer memory media, operable on the processor64. The computer system 60 also includes, as is conventional, a display68.

The computer program product 70, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is typicallyassociated with the computer system 60, stored on a tangible computermemory media 66, and operable by the processor 64 on the computer 60.The computer program product 70 takes the form of a set of instructions80 that, when executed by the computer 60, cause the computer to performvarious operations, including the processing sequence of the presentinvention as described above with regard to FIG. 3.

The computer program product illustrated in FIG. 4 is in the form of aset of instructions that, when executed by the processor 64, causes thecomputer 60 to adjust the credit facility available to the customerhaving the demand deposit account or prepaid card by performing theoperations of the process of the present invention described above. Theset of instructions according to the present invention, as stored in asuitable machine readable code in a tangible computer memory media,provides a computer program product 70 as shown schematically in FIG. 4.

As indicated in FIG. 4, the computer program product 70 includes codeindicated schematically at 80 for determining if the consumer has anexisting credit facility, such as a loan, line of credit, credit card oroverdraft line. The computer program product 70 further includes codeindicated schematically at 82 for a determination or confirmation thatthe consumer qualifies for a tax refund, as well as code indicated at 84for calculation or determination of the estimated amount of tax refundavailable. The computer program product 70 also includes code indicatedschematically at 86 for allocation of a determined portion available asproceeds based on underwriting criteria, as described above. Thecomputer program product 70 further includes code indicatedschematically at 88 for adjusting in the computer data base or memoryand other financial records and documents the existing credit facilityin the agreed one or more types of adjustments described above.

The tax preparation provider 20 and credit facility 26 are described andillustrated in FIG. 1 as distinct and separate facilities or entities.Further these facilities or entities may be located at the same or adifferent physical location. It should be understood, however, that thetax preparation provider 20 and credit facility 26 may be the sameentity or related entities and that the computer system 60 may beprogrammed to include either or both of the tax returnpreparation/processing capabilities of the tax return provider 20 andthe credit adjustment authorization capabilities of the creditinstitution 26. Thus, either or both of tax preparation and creditgranting/underwriting services may be performed “in-house” at a singlelocation or institution according to the present invention.

It should be understood that various types of computer readable mediaare available and adapted for storage of the computer program product 70according to the present invention. Such forms of computer readablemedia include but are not limited to tangible storage media, such asnonvolatile, hard-coded type media such as read only memories (ROMs),CD-ROMs, and DVD-ROMs, or erasable, electrically programmable read onlymemories (EEPROMs), recordable type media such as floppy disks, harddisk drives, CD-R/RWs, DVD-RAMs, DVD-R/RWs, DVD+R/RWs, flash drives,memory sticks, and other newer types of memories; as well astransmission type media such as digital and analog communication links.For example, such media can include operating instructions, as well asinstructions related to the system and the method steps described aboveand can operate on a computer. It should also be understood that suchmedia can be at other locations instead of or in addition to thelocations described above to store program products, e.g., includingsoftware, thereon.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come tothe mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the illustrated embodiments disclosed, and that modificationsand other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope ofthe appended claims.

1. A computer-implemented method of adjusting an existing line of creditaccount, the method comprising of: determining, by a computer associatedwith a credit provider and configured to control a plurality of existingline of credit accounts, whether a consumer has one or more of theplurality of existing line of credit accounts, each of the plurality ofexisting line of credit accounts adapted to be drawn in at least one ofa plurality of separate predetermined loan increments, each of theplurality of separate predetermined loan increments being equal invalue; determining, by the computer, an estimated tax refund for theconsumer responsive to the consumer having one or more of the pluralityof existing line of credit accounts; and increasing, by the computer, atotal credit limit of the one or more of the plurality of existing lineof credit accounts by a number of separate predetermined loan incrementsbased on the estimated tax refund to thereby increase existing availablecredit for the consumer, the increased available credit adapted to bedrawn in at least one of the plurality of separate predetermined loanincrements.
 2. A computer-implemented method as defined in claim 1,wherein the one or more of the plurality of existing line of creditaccounts are associated with one or more of a plurality of demanddeposit accounts associated with the consumer; and the method furthercomprising the step of: loading, by the computer, one or more of theplurality of demand deposit accounts with draws from the one or more ofthe plurality of existing line of credit accounts in at least one of theplurality of separate predetermined loan increments, a total value of apredetermined loan advance fee being equal to a predetermined feemultiplied by the number of separate predetermined loan incrementsloaded to the one or more of the plurality of demand deposit accounts.3. A computer-implemented method as defined in claim 1, wherein the oneor more of the plurality of existing line of credit accounts areassociated with one or more of a plurality of prepaid card accountsassociated with the consumer; and the method further comprising the stepof: loading, by the computer, one or more of the plurality of prepaidcard accounts with draws from the one or more of the plurality ofexisting line of credit accounts in at least one of the plurality ofseparate predetermined loan increments, a total value of a predeterminedloan advance fee being equal to a predetermined fee multiplied by thenumber of separate predetermined loan increments loaded to the one ormore of the plurality of prepaid card accounts.
 4. Acomputer-implemented method as defined in claim 1, wherein the one ormore of the plurality of existing line of credit accounts are associatedwith one or more of a plurality of customer accounts positioned remotefrom the computer and the method further comprising the step of:repaying at least a portion of a line of credit balance of one or moreof the plurality of existing line of credit accounts responsive toreceiving a tax refund associated with the consumer.
 5. Acomputer-implemented method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least aportion of a line of credit balance of one or more of the plurality ofexisting line of credit accounts is not due until a tax refundassociated with the consumer is received; and wherein the total creditlimit is increased prior to a tax return being filed.
 6. Acomputer-implemented method as defined in claim 1, wherein the estimatedtax refund is based on an actual tax-filing.
 7. A computer-implementedmethod as defined in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:increasing, by the computer, the total credit limit of the one or moreof the plurality of existing line of credit accounts by a second numberof separate predetermined loan increments responsive a filing of anactual tax refund to thereby increase existing available credit for theconsumer by a second amount, the second increased available creditadapted to be drawn in at least one of the plurality of separatepredetermined loan increments.
 8. A computer-implemented method asdefined in claim 1, wherein the method further comprising the step of:adjusting one or more terms of the one or more of the plurality ofexisting line of credit accounts responsive to the estimated tax refund.9. A computer-implemented method as defined in claim 1, the methodfurther comprising: allocating a portion of the estimated tax refund torepay at least a portion of a line of credit balance of one or more ofthe plurality of existing line of credit accounts.
 10. Acomputer-implemented method of adjusting an existing line of creditaccount, the method comprising of: determining, by a computer associatedwith a credit provider and configured to control a plurality of existingline of credit accounts, whether a consumer has one or more of theplurality of existing line of credit accounts, each of the plurality ofexisting line of credit accounts adapted to be drawn in at least one ofa plurality of separate predetermined loan increments, each of theplurality of separate predetermined loan increments being equal invalue; determining, by the computer, an estimated tax refund for theconsumer responsive to the consumer having one or more of the pluralityof existing line of credit accounts; and adjusting, by the computer,loan fee terms for the plurality of separate predetermined loanincrements responsive to the estimated tax refund so that a total valueof a loan advance fee equals a predetermined loan advance fee multipliedby a number of separate predetermined loan increments drawn by theconsumer.
 11. A computer-implemented method as defined in claim 10,wherein the adjusting includes reducing the predetermined loan advancefee from a first amount to a second amount.
 12. A computer-implementedmethod as defined in claim 10, wherein the adjusting includes extendinga time period for repayment of at least a portion of a line of creditbalance of the one or more of the plurality of existing line of creditaccounts.
 13. A computer-implemented method as defined in claim 10,wherein the method further comprises the step of: increasing, by thecomputer, a total credit limit of the one or more of the plurality ofexisting line of credit accounts by a number of separate predeterminedloan increments based on the estimated tax refund to thereby increaseexisting available credit for the consumer, the increased availablecredit adapted to be drawn in at least one of the plurality of separatepredetermined loan increments.
 14. Non-transitory memory encoded withcomputer program for adjusting an existing line of credit account, thecomputer program comprising a set of instructions that, when executed bya computer, causes the computer to perform the operations of:determining, by a computer associated with a credit provider andconfigured to control a plurality of existing line of credit accounts,whether a consumer has one or more of the plurality of existing line ofcredit accounts, each of the plurality of existing line of creditaccounts adapted to be drawn in at least one of a plurality of separatepredetermined loan increments, each of the plurality of separatepredetermined loan increments being equal in value; determining, by thecomputer, an estimated tax refund for the consumer responsive to theconsumer having one or more of the plurality of existing line of creditaccounts; and adjusting, by the computer, loan fee terms for theplurality of separate predetermined loan increments responsive to theestimated tax refund so that a total value of a loan advance fee equalsa predetermined loan advance fee multiplied by a number of separatepredetermined loan increments drawn by the consumer.
 15. Non-transitorymemory as defined in claim 14, wherein the adjusting includes reducingthe predetermined loan advance fee from a first amount to a secondamount.
 16. Non-transitory memory as defined in claim 14, wherein theadjusting includes extending a time period for repayment of at least aportion of a line of credit balance of the one or more of the pluralityof existing line of credit accounts.
 17. Non-transitory memory asdefined in claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the step of:increasing, by the computer, a total credit limit of the one or more ofthe plurality of existing line of credit accounts by a number ofseparate predetermined loan increments based on the estimated tax refundto thereby increase existing available credit for the consumer, theincreased available credit adapted to be drawn in at least one of theplurality of separate predetermined loan increments.
 18. Non-transitorymemory as defined in claim 14, wherein the method further comprises thestep of: repaying at least a portion of a line of credit balance of oneor more of the plurality of existing line of credit accounts responsiveto receiving a tax refund associated with the consumer. 19.Non-transitory memory as defined in claim 17, wherein the method furthercomprises the step of: increasing, by the computer, the total creditlimit of the one or more of the plurality of existing line of creditaccounts by a second number of separate predetermined loan incrementsresponsive a filing of an actual tax refund to thereby increase existingavailable credit for the consumer by a second amount, the secondincreased available credit adapted to be drawn in at least one of theplurality of separate predetermined loan increments.
 20. Non-transitorymemory as defined in claim 14, wherein the method further comprises thestep of: allocating a portion of the estimated tax refund to repay atleast a portion of a line of credit balance of one or more of theplurality of existing line of credit accounts; and wherein the one ormore of the plurality of existing line of credit accounts are associatedwith one or more of a plurality of prepaid card accounts associated withthe consumer.